Core Insights - Shanghai's total import and export value reached 3.34 trillion yuan in the first three quarters of the year, marking a 5.4% increase year-on-year, with the growth rate accelerating by 0.9 percentage points compared to the first eight months of the year [1] Trade Performance - Exports totaled 1.48 trillion yuan, reflecting an 11.3% year-on-year increase, while imports amounted to 1.86 trillion yuan, showing a 1.1% growth [1] - The quarterly import and export values were 1.01 trillion yuan, 1.14 trillion yuan, and 1.19 trillion yuan respectively, with year-on-year changes of -2.5%, +7.2%, and +11.3% [1] - In September alone, the import and export value reached 405.9 billion yuan, surpassing the 400 billion yuan mark, with a year-on-year growth of 12.5% [1] Private Sector Contribution - Private enterprises accounted for 1.32 trillion yuan in import and export value, a 27.1% increase year-on-year, contributing 8.9 percentage points to the overall foreign trade growth [1] - The share of private enterprises in the total import and export value rose to 39.5%, an increase of 6.7 percentage points from the previous year, marking a historical high [1] Market Diversification - Imports and exports to emerging markets such as ASEAN, the Middle East, and Africa reached 474.82 billion yuan, 121.13 billion yuan, and 112.85 billion yuan respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 12.5%, 22.9%, and 32.5% [2] - Trade with India and Mexico also saw significant increases, with import and export values of 74.14 billion yuan and 60.69 billion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth of 33% and 17.4% respectively [2] - Trade with the EU slightly declined by 0.4%, totaling 600.31 billion yuan [2] Export Products - Key export products included integrated circuits, general machinery, and electrical control devices, with export values of 150.54 billion yuan, 29 billion yuan, and 27.72 billion yuan, showing year-on-year growth of 10%, 25%, and 20.5% respectively [2] - The export of green shipping equipment, particularly liquid cargo ships, surged by 82.7% to 20.63 billion yuan [2] - Emerging products like electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells reached an export value of 112.17 billion yuan, a 6.3% increase, with lithium battery exports alone growing by 20.7% to 32.15 billion yuan [2] Import Trends - High-tech product imports totaled 601.58 billion yuan, a 6.4% increase, outpacing overall import growth by 5.3 percentage points [3] - Significant growth was observed in the import of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, computers and components, and aircraft, with increases of 22.6%, 16.1%, and 1.2 times respectively [3] - Consumer goods imports amounted to 358.54 billion yuan, despite a 6.5% decline overall, with essential items like dairy, fruits, and meat showing growth rates of 19.7%, 15.3%, and 2.8% respectively [3] Bulk Commodity Imports - Bulk commodity imports reached 214.81 billion yuan, reflecting a 2.5% year-on-year increase, with metal ore imports growing by 10.4% [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the cyclical nature of commodity markets, emphasizing the importance of macroeconomic factors such as the dollar cycle, global economic growth quality, and policy changes in major economies, while analyzing historical trends and their implications for future commodity pricing [4][5][6]. Group 1: Historical Context of Commodity Cycles - Different eras have distinct dominant factors influencing commodity prices, with a review structured around significant events and changes in the global landscape [7]. - The 1970s marked a unique period of stagflation, initiated by the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, leading to a decoupling of the dollar from gold, resulting in a chaotic economic environment where commodity prices surged despite economic recession [11][12]. - The 1980s saw a recovery with the stabilization of the dollar and economic growth in the U.S., where commodity prices were positively correlated with GDP, particularly during the period of the Plaza Accord [15][16]. Group 2: Economic Growth and Commodity Prices - The relationship between commodity cycles and economic growth attributes is significant, with emerging economies and new growth drivers having a more substantial impact on commodity trends than inventory cycles [10]. - The early 2000s experienced a super bull market in commodities driven by China's industrialization and demand, with the CRB index rising from 200 to 480 before the financial crisis [21][23]. - Post-financial crisis, the period from 2008 to 2018 was characterized by China's stimulus measures, which temporarily boosted commodity prices, but ultimately led to overcapacity and a prolonged bear market [28][32]. Group 3: Current and Future Trends - The era of de-globalization, marked by U.S.-China tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic, has reinforced the monetary attributes of commodities, leading to a recent bull market in the CRB index [35][38]. - The relationship between the CRB index and China's economic cycles has weakened, indicating a shift in the dynamics of commodity demand and pricing [39]. - The long-term price range of commodities is influenced by their monetary attributes and cyclical properties, with potential for the CRB index to rise to a new range of 500-700 due to ongoing monetary expansion [47].

Export Performance - In September 2025, China's exports reached $328.57 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.3%, exceeding the expected 5.7%[2] - The export growth rate increased by 3.9 percentage points compared to the previous month, driven by strong demand from non-US economies and a low base effect from last year[3] - Major contributors to export growth included high-tech products and machinery, with high-tech product exports growing by 11.5%[15] Import Trends - Imports in September 2025 totaled $238.12 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 7.4%, significantly higher than the expected 1.4%[2] - The increase in imports was supported by domestic demand recovery and easing trade uncertainties with the US[17] - High-end manufacturing products, such as integrated circuits and large aircraft, saw substantial import growth rates of 14.1% and 201.3%, respectively[17] Trade Balance - The trade surplus for September 2025 was $90.45 billion, down from $102.33 billion in the previous month[2] - The decline in trade surplus reflects the stronger growth in imports compared to exports, indicating a shift in trade dynamics[2] Regional Trade Dynamics - In September 2025, the share of exports to Africa and Latin America reached record highs, with year-on-year growth rates of 56.4% and 15.2%, respectively[6] - The combined export share to the US, EU, and ASEAN decreased to 41.4%, while the share to emerging markets increased, highlighting the effectiveness of trade diversification strategies[6] Future Outlook - Continued support for exports is expected from non-US economies, with ongoing recovery in consumer demand and manufacturing activity in regions like the EU and Africa[21] - Potential "export rush" may occur in October due to uncertainties surrounding US tariff policies and the upcoming holiday season[21]

Core Viewpoints - September exports showed strong growth due to a combination of low base effects and improved external demand [2][70] - The year-on-year export growth in September was 8.3%, significantly higher than the expected 5.7% and previous value of 4.4% [69][70] - Import growth also increased to 7.4% year-on-year, surpassing expectations of 1.4% [69][70] Export Analysis - The strong export performance in September was influenced by a low base from the previous year, with a 3.9 percentage point increase from August [2][70] - Exports to the EU rose by 3.8 percentage points to 14.3%, benefiting from last year's decline of 11.5% [2][70] - The global manufacturing PMI for September was 50.8, indicating resilience in external demand [2][70] Country-Specific Insights - Exports to the US improved, likely due to ongoing inventory replenishment cycles, with a 6.1 percentage point increase to -27% [2][70] - Exports to emerging economies increased by 4.2 percentage points to 15.8%, with exports to Africa surging by 30.5% [3][71] - Despite a decline in exports to ASEAN by 6.9% to 15.7%, overall growth remained robust [3][71] Import Dynamics - Imports of mechanical and electrical products showed significant growth, with a year-on-year increase of 9.1% to 10.1% [3][31] - Key imports included crude oil (+22.8% to 7.7%) and soybeans (+23.5% to 14.6%), indicating improved domestic demand [3][31] - Processing trade imports also rose significantly, suggesting strong external demand and stability in overall exports [3][31] Future Outlook - While tariff fluctuations and base effects may disrupt exports, improved external demand and market share gains are expected to sustain high export levels [4][72] - Leading indicators for October, such as port freight volumes and export production chains, suggest continued strength in exports [4][72] - The ongoing trend of increasing import demand from emerging economies and a shift in market share towards China are likely to support future export resilience [4][72]